Manteca Councilman Mike Morowit is not a “gotcha you” kind of guy.

It was why he scored the unanimous support of his elected colleagues for the placement of signs at all intersections with red light cameras that read “red light violation $490 minimum fine.”

They are being placed right above traffic signals where video and radar units are mounted.

“I don’t want this to be a gotcha situation,” Morowit said.

Morowit said Thursday the red light cameras from the very start have been pursued as a way to reduce the carnage caused by intersection collisions.

The councilman’s remarks came just a day after data from the red light cameras at Northgate Drive and North Main Street — that are still in the 30-day grace period — provided multiple documentation of drivers running the red lights at a high rate of speed.

Police Chief Stephen Schluer confirmed a high number of high speed red light runners at Main and Northgate.

The grace period ends the first week of April.

After that, all red light runners caught by radar and video will receive a ticket in the mail that will cost them $490.

High speed combined with red light running is the 1-2 punch that creates the most dangerous situation for intersection collisions that lead to serious injuries.

Overall, almost 1 of every 5 collisions in Manteca have red light cameras running as a contributing factor if not the main factor.

There are an average of 1,000 vehicle versus vehicle or a pedestrian, bicyclist, or inanimate object every year in Manteca.

“I want it eventually see them (the $490 fine advisory signs) at all intersections in Manteca with traffic signals even if they don’t have red light cameras,” Morowit said.

He believes it will be an effective reminder, and therefore a deterrent, that running a red light is an expensive financial hit.

And given where they are placed above traffic signals on each corner, it is something people will see when they are stopped at a red light.

The city does have the red light enforcement warning signs as required by state law at the approach to each intersection with red light cameras.

The cost of the additional signs, noting the fine are not required by state law and few other cities with red light cameras systems install, is $70.

"I would like to see them at the non-camera (traffic signal) intersections,” Morowit re-emphasized.

That said, he definitely wants to see them on all red light camera intersections. The includes approaches that aren’t covered with red light ticketing technology such as one approach at Daniels Street.

Morowit noted the state mandated signs are farther back from the intersection and don’t indicate more they they are approaching an intersection with a relight camera.

He believes people seeing the cost of a red light running ticket prominently displayed at all city intersections with traffic signals will improve safety.

Assuming Manteca has 80 signalized intersections requiring four signs at $70 apiece, universal placement in sign costs alone would be $19,200.

But, as Morowit noted, he prefers the city to add the signs as it has the funding to do so.

The red light cameras are already activated at Airport Way and Daniels Street.

The intersections at Louise Avenue and Main Street as well as Yosemite Avenue and Commerce Drive/Northwwoods Avenue are also having red light cameras installed.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com